With warmer days, there are many more cyclists out and about. Here are some easy things that you can do to keep yourself safe while cycling around town.
First off, get your bike ready for the road. Are you able to change from one gear to another? Do your breaks enable you to stop in time? The time that I rode down a hill at high speeds and the brake cable snapped provided much more excitement than I normally need. If your bike needs some TLC, take it in for a tune up and soon you'll be riding smoothly.
Next, equip your bike with safety gear. After dark, all cyclists are legally required to have a front white light, a rear red light, and a rear red reflector. Visit a local bike store to find a bright light that ensures you're seen when the sun goes down. While you're shopping, consider picking up a bell as well. A bell is a great communication tool that alerts other road users when you are near.
Now it's time to dress yourself in safety gear. Start by protecting your head with a helmet that fits properly. To test if your helmet fits well, put it on without the strap done up and bend over as far as you can. Your helmet should fit snugly and should not fall off. To test whether your helmet is in the correct position on your head, stand up straight as close to a wall as possible and feel what touches first, your nose or your helmet. Having not done that in my younger cycling years, when I went over the handle bars in an accident, I ended up with two black eyes and an amazing cut on my nose. My coworkers called me Rocky Raccoon for a long time.
In addition, wear bright, visible clothing, even in the day time. How many times have you driven by cyclists dressed in dark clothing, riding a dark bike? Even on a bright sunny day, these cyclists are hard to see. I like to be visible by wearing a bright yellow coat. In fact, I have been told that I can be seen from a couple blocks away. While not being one who likes to stand out in a crowd, I do want to stand out on the street and make it safely home after riding.
Once you're riding out on the roads, it's important to choose a safe route to reach your destination. Focus on using roads with bike lanes or streets that are wide and quiet. For example, I take 3rd avenue or 8th avenue from the bypass east into downtown. If you do end up on a narrow street without a bike lane (for example, North Nechako Road west of Foothills), ride at least an arm's length away from the edge of the road. That way, you have some room to pull over if needed.
Cycling is fun and healthy. You can come back alive from your ride by following some simple safety precautions. Have a safe ride!
This is the third of a 4-week series leading up to Bike to Work Week. Hosted locally by Prince George Cycling Club, Bike to Work Week encourages BC residents to commute by bicycle. A variety of local businesses and organizations will be sponsoring "Celebration Stations" during the week of May 26 - June 1st. Visit these stations for food, beverages, education pamphlets, and prizes! Please visit http://www.biketowork.ca/prince-george to register online as an individual or a team.
